Bristow Helicopters has began construction of SAR helicopter bases at Humberside and Inverness airports. Humberside will house two helicopters, which will be operated by Bristow's crews and support team. Both facilities are due to be fully operational in April 2015, when Bristow takes over delivery of helicopter SAR services throughout the UK on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Md Mike Imlach says: “We have been working closely with the Humberside and Inverness airport teams on these developments and look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with them throughout the build and once the bases become operational.

“Both bases will provide modern, high quality accommodation for the aircraft and crews while demonstrating how buildings like this can be made highly sustainable and environmentally friendly.”

In addition to Humberside and Inverness, new build SAR helicopter bases are being developed at the commercial airports at Manston, Prestwick, Caernarfon, St Athan and Newquay. Bristow currently provides services at Stornoway, in the Western Isles and Sumburgh in Shetland, which will continue throughout the UK SAR contract. The tenth base which will be used by Bristow is an existing facility at Lee-on-Solent.